VOORHEES, N.J. — — No one will ever know if Ray Emery would have started the first round of the playoffs in goal for the Philadelphia Flyers even if Steve Mason had not been injured.

But the whole thing became a moot point around noon on Wednesday when Emery was officially announced to play in Game 1 on Thursday night against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Mason, sidelined by an upper-body injury he suffered in last Saturday's game against the Pittburgh Penguins, did not even skate on Wednesday.

So, it was pretty much a fait accompli that Emery was going to play. But it wasn't a done deal until coach Craig Berube came out and said so.

Berube was asked if he felt disappointment that Mason would not be able to play.

"It's not disappointing,'' Berube said. "It's part of the game sometimes. Things happen. We're a team, we've been a team all year and that doesn't change.''

There had been speculation as far back as a week ago that Emery might get the nod, partly because he has superior playoff experience and also better lifetime numbers against the Rangers (Emery 7-2, 1.87 goals-against average, .936 save percentage; Mason 4-1-1, 2.49 GAA, .928 SP).

In terms of playoff experience, the difference is even greater. Emery has played in 86 playoff games, including two Stanley Cup finals (and one championship). Mason has never played in the postseason.

Berube hasn't ruled out Mason returning to action at some point in the series.

"It's a day-to-day thing,'' Berube said. "He's not ready to go, so he's not playing.''

Mason was not available for comment.

Emery, 31, spoke to the media before Berube made it official to the media but he most certainly knew the score sometime earlier in the morning.

This isn't the first time he's been called in from the bullpen on short notice.

"Well, maybe twice, I guess,'' he said. "But if I get a chance to play, I am always excited to play, especially in the playoffs, especially with a team like this. It is definitely a team effort when you are talking about the Flyers.''

Emery played well against some tough teams after the Olympic break and the Flyers said they're confident in him.

" 'Razor' has some experience in the playoffs,'' captain Claude Giroux pointed out. "He's won a Cup. It doesn't matter [who plays], we have confidence in both.''

Emery did get lit up pretty well (four goals) in the Flyers' 4-1 loss at MSG on Jan. 12.

"I don't think we were playing well at that point,'' Giroux pointed out. "We've lost two games there this year. It's time to change that.''

Emery said he knew this day might be coming. And now it has.

"Even if you are not playing — or if there is a good chance you won't play — you still prepare like you are going to get a chance to get in there,'' Emery said. "But I kind of saw that 'Mase' wasn't available at the end of the year and I have taken maybe a little bit more care and notice that way."

Emery said that January game at the Garden is in the distant past.

"First and foremost we start with a clean slate,'' he said. "We're not worried about what happened in the past. Both teams don't have a win in the series, and both teams want to win the first game.

"So we're aware that they come out hard, especially in their own building. But we come out hard, too. So we have got to be prepared for that. But at the same time, if we do the things we need to do, we are confident that we can win the series."